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Several hours later, inside an high school in central Newark...
Scott and Rogue were standing in the high school commons. The final bell of the day had just rung, and students of all sorts were milling around the room. Scott surveyed the room anxiously. "I don't see her. How 'bout you?"
"Nah. And Ah don't think we will, standing out here." Rogue paused as Scott gave her a questioning look. "If what it said on her profile is right, she prob'ly won't be standing around with everyone else. She'll be in some corner or empty hallway with a few of her friends. It's what Ah'd do. It's what Ah did..."
"Fair enough," said Scott, slipping into his 'combat' voice. "Follow your gut, but don't go too far. I'll keep watch from here."
Rogue saluted, mockingly. "Yes suh, Big Brother. Whatever you say."
"One last thing," added Scott, "use your real name. 'Rogue' isn't exactly a name that will instill trust in our new recruit..."
Rogue rolled her eyes, then walked off.
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Keeping a sharp eye out, Rogue walked around the periphery of the room. So far, she hadn't seen any sign of the mutant she was supposed to meet. Anxiously, she looked across the room. Sure enough, Scott was still standing against the wall, watching her. Her, and everyone else in the room. Shaking her head at Scott's overprotectiveness, Rogue turned her attention back to her search.
Rogue passed a hallway entrance, and casually looked down it. As she did, an odd shadow in the hall caught her eye. After a closer look, the shadow turned out to be a small niche in wall. "That's a hangout if ever Ah've seen one," she said to herself.
Trying her best to look natural, Rogue walked down the hall. As she passed the niche, she cast a stray glance into it. Sure enough, there were three kids in it, all talking quietly to each other. The students bore all the signs of being outcasts. From the hushed tones of their voices to the heavy trenchcoats and jackets they wore. Rogue didn't recognize the first two of the kids, but the third was unmistakably the mutant she was looking for. Rogue allowed herself a small smile. 'First stage complete,' she thought. 'Now ta talk ta her...'
Rogue walked into the niche. "Hey... What's up?" She asked casually. The three students glared at her. In the ensuing silence, Rogue felt what little confidence she had quickly melt away. She began backing away. "Uh, sorry if Ah'm interrupting anything..."
One of the students, an odd looking boy with slicked back reddish hair and a trenchcoat, sneered at Rogue. "Good. Nice to know you have enough manners to know when to apologize."
Rogue looked at the kid and snorted. "Well, that puts me a few steps above you..."
Erin, who was noticeably taller than the other two kids, nudged the first kid's shoulder, mockingly. "Oh-hoo... She got ya there, George."
"Oh, shut up," George shot back.
Irritably, Rogue shook her head. So far, she was not accomplishing what she had come her to do. Hoping to get things over with quickly, Rogue decided to take the blunt route. "Uh, look," she said to Erin. "Ya're Erin Valchek, right."
At the sound of her name, Erin sharply glanced up at Rouge. "Yeah," she replied, with a suspicious edge to her voice. "Who's asking?"
"Marie," Rogue responded. She quickly slipped into the 'recruiter' tone she had heard Scott and Jean use so many times. "Ah'm from the Xavier Institute for the Gifted. The higher ups in the Institute have been hearin' some things about you, and they wanted ta me come out and talk t'ya."
"'Xavier Institute?!" The third student, a blond boy who had until then seemed rather disinterested, suddenly perked up. "What does the Xavier Institute want with Erin?"
This question caught Rogue off guard. Despite her limited recruiting experience, Rogue knew that publicly proclaiming Erin as a mutant would not be a good idea. Not in front of her friends, at least. To buy time to think of an appropriate explanation, Rogue asked a question of her own. "You've heard of us?"
This question caught the student equally off guard. "Well... Sort of. I've just 'eard the name, and that its a real exclusive joint..."
"Yeah, Ah guess we are," agreed Rogue. "Anyway, the Institute is kinda interested in havin' ya join, Erin. Ah was wonderin' if Ah could talk ta ya and ya're parents about the Institute. Nothin' big, just tell ya what we have t'offer and why we want ya." Rogue finished her pitch with what she hoped was a convincing smile.
"I don't know," said Erin, slowly. "I kinda like where I am right now..."
"Ya don't need to decide now," said Rogue, hastily. "All we want is a chance ta explain what ya're options are--"
George, still ticked off from the beginning of the conversation, cut Rogue off. "Look, she already gave her answer! What part of 'NO' don't you understand?!" He stepped up in Rogue's face, almost daring her to argue.
"George, relax!" The blond kid's comment almost sounded like order.
"Ugh, look Marie," began Erin, "I appreciate the offer, really. But..." Erin trailed off, apparently searching for the right words. "...I'm just too busy right now to really think about moving anywhere. I mean, I can barely handle school right now. I don't think I'd be able to handle being in any type of program for the 'gifted.' Sorry..."
Erin checked her watch. "Anyway, we'd better get going. See ya around..." Erin started walking off with the two boys following after her. Rogue was left standing in the hallway, alone, with the bitter taste of failure in her mouth.
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Back in the commons...
As he watched Rogue walk down the hallway, a scowl formed on Scott's normally dispassionate face. He knew Rogue had the right idea in searching out-of-the-way parts of the school, but he still wanted Rogue in sight. Too many things could go wrong, otherwise. Scott discretely began walking across the commons, trying to find a clear view of the hallway.
However, just as he left the wall, Scott was bowled over by a large, fast moving black kid. The black kid got to he feet angrily. "Hey! Watch where you're going'!"
"Me? Who's the one moving at mach five?" Scott spat back. "Schools are meant for walking, not cruising."
The black kid stepped up into Scott's face. With a trace of irony, Scott noticed that this kid was also wearing sunglasses. "Ooh, a smart-ass," said the kid, his voice dripping with malice. "You wanna make something of it, preppy?"
Scott felt his powers flare up behind his glasses. "Only if you make me. Now if you'll excuse me..." Scott tried to move past the student. The student responded by shoving Scott back. Scott felt his powers flare up again. "I do not need this..." he mumbled.
"What was that?" The kid shoved Scott back again. "I didn't quite hear you..."
"Yo! Bas!" At the sound of this new voice, the black kid backed off a little. Scott looked past the black kid, towards the speaker, who turned out to a massive white student with a shaved head, carrying a duffel bag. "Come on, Bas! You remember what Coach said about being late to wrestling practice..."
Bas, the black kid, sneered at Scott for a moment longer. "We'll finish this later, punk!" With that, Bas turned and stalked off after his friend.
"Hmm," snorted Scott, "that was a pleasant experience..." Muttering to himself, Scott continued on to the hall he saw Rogue walk into. He got to the hall just in time to see three students hurriedly walk out of it.
"Well, at least those three didn't run over me," Scott mumbled. He looked down the hall, and saw Rogue standing in the middle of it, alone. Casually, he walked up to her. "Hey, Rogue. I lost ya for a moment, so I thought I'd come check up on you. Any luck?"
"Shut up, Scott," she replied angrily. "We've got some kids ta follow." With that, Rogue practically dragged Scott out of the hallway.
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Later, elsewhere in Newark...
"Are you sure we're in the right area?" Asked Scott. He was back in his car, driving around one of the more run-down parts of Newark. Rogue had insisted on following Erin when she left the school, but she and Scott got stuck in traffic, and lost Erin's trail. Because of this, their tracking efforts were guesswork at best.
"Ah saw her car turn onto this road," replied Rogue, keeping an eye on the road. "And this is the only neighborhood it leads ta. She has ta be here. Somewhere..."
A moment passed, with both Scott and Rogue searching the road in silence. Abruptly, Rogue spoke up. "Scott! Pull over here!"
Scott complied. "You see her?"
"Over there." Rogue pointed down a side street. The street was flanked by abandoned buildings, with a couple vacant lots between them. One of the vacant lots was occupied by several figures. Rogue got out of the car. "That's gotta be them. I'm goin' in."
"Fine, but I'm going with you." Scott also got out of the car.
"Scott, Ah thought Ah was doin' this alone?"
"You are," said Scott, again slipping into his combat tone. "I'm watching you're back. We were safe in the school, but I'm not taking any chances out here."
Rogue heaved an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Just don't look to obvious."
"Trust me. I won't." Without saying another word, Scott melted into the shadows of the run down buildings.
Rogue shook her head dismissively. "That boy worries too much..." Steeling herself for another confrontation, Rogue walked down the street towards the vacant lot.
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Rogue approached the vacant lot cautiously. As much as she hated to admit it, Scott did have a valid point about being careful. Craning her neck, Rogue looked towards the lot. Though she was still some distance away, she was close enough to make out the identity of the figures. It was Erin, along with George and the blond kid who's name she never caught. "Great," she muttered. "Ah still have ta deal with those guys..."
As she continued walking towards the lot, Rogue pondered how to deal with the two boys. Unfortunately, no ideas were forthcoming. To make matters worse, she was spotted before she actually reached the lot.
"Hey, look at what we 'ave here, mates!" It was the blond kid who spotted her first. Though Rogue didn't notice it during her first encounter, the kid spoke with a distinct Australian accent. "It's the X-Girl!"
Rogue flinched at this. 'Its just him tryin' a be clever,' she thought to herself. 'He may know about the Institute, but he can't possibly know about the X-Men. Xavier keeps his secrets bettah than that.' Nonetheless, it was an unnerving coincidence.
The rest of the trio walked into clear view. As Rogue reached the lot, she was greeted by a smirking Erin. "Huh. You're a persistent one, aren't you Marie?"
"That's one thing they teach us at the Institute," replied Rogue with a smirk of her own. "Look Erin, Ah know ya--"
Erin cut Rogue off rather rudely. "Marie, no offense, but save your breath. I told you, I'm not 'gifted' material. I pull straight C's at best. And that's with George helping me. I would bomb at a 'gifted' Institute."
Rogue heaved an exasperated sigh. Things were going no better than they were the first time. Despite everything Xavier and Scott said, Erin just wasn't listening to her. Rogue was becoming frustrated and it was starting to show. "Erin, it's not like that. The Institute is there ta help kids--"
"'Help?'" This seemed to offend Erin. "Look girl, I'm just fine where I am right now! I don't need any help, and I don't want any help! Got that?"
"Look, if ya'll just let me explain--"
"Explain what?" Cut in George. He still seemed bitter from the last encounter. "Explain why she should just get up and go to your little 'Institution?' Why she should leave the only friends she has just because some dorks in power think she's 'gifted?'"
George's comments were getting under Rogue's skin, and she lost her temper. "Why should Ah explain anything ta you!? Ah came ta talk ta her, not some slicked back swamp-rat like you!"
"Hey, now..." The blond kid looked on apprehensibly.
"Stay out of this, Alec," ordered Erin. "This is between us and her!"
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that," said George, egging Rouge on. "D'you wanna say that again?"
"Back off, NOW!" All eyes turned to the edge of the lot, where a grim faced man in red sunglasses walked out of the shadows. Scott quickly placed himself in front of Rogue, and glared at the other two kids. For their part, George and Erin glared back. "If you're trying to pick a fight," said Scott menacingly, "I'd stop right now."
"Don't worry, mate," soothed Alec. "George wasn't gunna--"
Abruptly, George shoved Scott backwards. Seeing this, Rogue angrily charged at Erin. Erin countered by sidestepping around her, and delivering a swift chop to Rogue's back. The blow sent Rouge to the ground. As Rogue tried to get up, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of vertigo. Surrounded by a faint glow, she stayed on the ground.
With Rogue neutralized, Erin cast a quick glance at Scott. Scott had regained his footing, and seemed to be preparing for George's next attack. "Stay back, George," said Erin. Her eyes glowed with power, and the glow suddenly shot out towards Scott. The glow enveloped him, causing him to feel the same vertigo that Rogue did. With her eyes still glowing, Erin grinned. "What's the matter, kid? Not feeling well?"
With very slow, deliberate movements, Scott looked up at Erin. "Don't do this, Erin. You may think your power makes you invincible, but you're wrong. Being reckless like this will only endanger yourself, and your friends."
"Oh yeah?" Mocked Erin. "Look at yourself. You can barely stand up, let alone fight. How are you a danger to me?" Erin trailed off laughing.
Still keeping his movements controlled, Scott looked at the ground at Erin's feet. Praying his aim was true, Scott slowly lifted his glasses. A blinding red beam shot out of Scott's eyes. Scott closed his eyes after a mere second, cutting off the blast, but it still left a sizable hole in the ground in front of Erin.
As the blast went off, Erin gave a startled scream and fell backward. "He's powered!" She yelled frantically. "Get out of here!" The glow faded from here eyes, and she took off running. George followed right behind her.
"Hey! Hey, hold up!" Alec held his ground, but his companions ran right past him, fleeing down the street. "Blast," he muttered disgustedly. Shaking his head, he walked over to Scott, who was helping up Rogue.
"Wha... What happened?" Asked a dazed Rogue.
"Looks like Erin's powers pack quite a kick," said Scott. Rogue's expression told Scott that his answer hadn't explained anything. "Apparently, Erin's powers disorient people. She knows it, and knows how to use it. This could be..." Scott cut himself off, finally noticing Alec. "What're you still doing here?"
Alec gave Scott a weak grin. "Ah, look mate, I'm real sorry 'bout Erin. She kinda wigs out sometimes. And George, he 'as a temper and... Ah, you know 'ow it goes..."
Rogue glared at Alec accusingly. "So you knew she was a mutant. You knew it all along."
"Yeah..." Alec ran his fingers through his hair, obviously embarrassed by his companion's actions. He looked back to Scott. "You're from the Institute too, huh? An' you're both mutants?" He paused long enough for Scott to nod. "Everyone there's a mutant, right?"
"Yes," replied Scott. "The Institute is a sanctuary for mutants. They live around others mutants to develop a sense of community and acceptance. To learn that they aren't so different and so alone." Scott tone soured slightly. "They're also taught how to control their powers, and their tempers, so incidents like this one don't happen."
Alec nodded. "Yeah... Life 'as been pretty hard on Erin. George an' I are the only ones who know about Erin... We're her only friends, really..." Alec sighed, thinking. "Look, if what you say it true, I think this Institute could really help Erin. But, I doubt she's gunna want to leave..."
Rogue snorted. "We kinda noticed that."
A thoughtful look formed on Scott's face. "What if you talked to her." Scott regarded the confused look on Alec's face. "Erin doesn't trust us, but obviously, she does trust you. If you talked to her, told her to consider the Institute, she might actually consider it."
"You may be right," said Alec. "Tell ya what, I'll talk to her tonight. Explain things a bit, and convince her to talk to you. You two show up tomorrow, say during lunch, and then you can tell just what the Institute can offer. Sound good?"
Scott nodded. "I think so. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Great." Alec turned and started walking off. About ten steps later, he turned back around. "Aaaaah... Ah, mate, I never quite caught your name..."
Scott smirked. "Summers. Scott Summers."
Alec smirked back. "Alec Cranston. See ya 'round." Alec gave a mock salute, and walked off.
Rogue watched Alec walk away with an exhausted look on her face. "Well, that could have gone bettah. What now?"
Scott exhaled loudly. "Now, we talk to the Professor."
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